ROUNDING FIRST

[Rob Visser]

I was personally wondering if Jim is currently in the process of working on any future project that allows mentioning on this forum. I am a strong fan of independent filmmaking, and would love to find out if another possible strong and heartfelt film might be upcoming.

Hoping you are doing well Jim!
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Rob Visser
"I just wish I could go someplace where nobody knows me."

www.poppedcorn.com : movie reviews and more
www.busicat.net : my personal website - my movie reviews and more

[Jim Fleigner]

Hi Rob,

Always great to hear from an old friend and fan of RF. The short answer to your question is that I would absolutely love to make another film, for so many reasons. I learned so much from making RF that I could make an even better film the second time. And I feel like I still have much to say. I even have other scripts that are written with stories that are just as heartfelt, thoughtful and intelligent as RF. My personal favorite is "The Drama Club", an intelligent, sweet romantic comedy set in a high school theater group that I wrote based loosely on my own personal experiences growing up in that environment.

The problem is money. I tapped out all of my friends and family (and my own meager bank accounts) to make RF, and while it continues to sell a few DVDs each week, the film has come nowhere near to recovering its costs. During this time, I even sadly lost the support of a few friends and family members who incorrectly assumed they would have no problem getting their money back. No matter how great the film is, little did we all know how hard it would be...

While I still hold out hope that the film might eventually be "discovered" by the masses, I just can't make another film unless someone were to not only bankroll it, but also pay me a salary that allows me to support my family. .. sigh...

I did not receive one dollar for RF, and I worked on that film for 100 hours every week for four grueling years. My wife, three year old son and I lived a hand-to-mouth existence during those years and we're still working extremely hard to recover from that phase of our lives. Don't get me wrong - I have absolutely no regrets about choosing to make RF, but it is just too much of a sacrifice to make a second time.

So if you have any rich friends with a few million dollars burning a hole in pocket and a desire to make a film, be sure to send them my way!
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Jim Fleigner
"Now doesn't matter when you're twelve"
www.RoundingFirstMovie.com

[Daniel Chia]

Dear Jim... you have my utmost respect .

What you just wrote touched me very deeply.

I don't know if anyone actually realises the extent of the sacrifice that you and your family have made, in the making of Rounding First .

To think that you have not made a single cent from your 4 long years ( and counting ) of hard work , and having to live a hand-to-mouth existence because of that , truly you have earned my utmost respect, you and your wife.

I respect you tremendously for your passion in bringing Rounding First to film, you had a great story to tell, and against all odds, you managed to bring together your amazing cast and crew and you got the film made.

Rounding First truly is a very special film, and it has come to mean a lot to me, and to many, many others who have seen it. It is a terrible injustice that Rounding First has not managed to find a distributor , because it really deserves to get a much wider audience, theatrically. I would take Rounding First over most of the other fluff that makes it to the big screen nowadays, so it is truly a pity that Rounding First has not received the big break that it deserves.

I am grateful to everyone who believed in you and invested in the film, but I am deeply saddened to hear that you have lost the support of a few friends and family members who incorrectly assumed they would have no problem getting their money back.

Even sadder is the thought that unless something amazing happens, you may not get the chance to make another film, because you, Jim, are a terrific director and storyteller, and I am dying to see another film by you. I know that you still have a lot to say, it has been my privilege to catch a glimpse of that, and I am still hoping that you get your big break one day.

If anyone is reading this, I urge you all to continue supporting Jim Fleigner and Rounding First . Please keep telling all your friends about the film. Keep getting the word out. Every little bit of effort counts.

And Jim, you will always have my support . I hope that is small consolation to you and your family. I wish that there was more that I could do, but I assure you that I will continue to do whatever I can as long as there is breath in me.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for Rounding First .
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3 Best Friends .... One Remarkable Journey ....
www.roundingfirst.net : The Rounding First Tribute Site

[Rob Visser]

I had been hoping that things were easier for you Jim... Reading this, like Daniel mentioned above, really puts a lump in my throat.

I obviously knew about the tough times and scarce financial situation during production, but I did not know that it has so much affected (and still is affecting) your personal situation. I highly respect people who believe in a dream project and start building it - and people who actually finish this project deserve nothing but the best. It is a shame that support for the film is yet limited.

I guess that we (the fans) can only partially help out, by recommending your work to friends and family. Spreading the word, sharing thoughts online. Renting or, even better, purchasing a copy of the film.

I have nothing but the highest respect for filmmakers who give us films straight from the heart. Thank you so much. This is true cinema, I believe.

Hopefully things will get easier in due time. And hopefully we'll be able to enjoy another fine film from you in the future.
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Rob Visser
"I just wish I could go someplace where nobody knows me."

www.poppedcorn.com : movie reviews and more
www.busicat.net : my personal website - my movie reviews and more

[Eleah]

I hope you get your money back Jim. I think you will one day. If you are ever in need of a teenager actress let me know... I would love to audition for one of your movies! Good luck in getting the money back. Im sure you will!
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Eleah

[Jim Fleigner]

It has been a hard road, no question about that. But just as the film depicts, sometimes bad things happen in life - sometimes we can control them and sometimes we can't. But regardless of which it is, we all have to decide whether to suffer needlessly or excessively from our bad experiences or to learn and grow from them. That decision is up to each of us - even the guy who created this film and is writing this post.

Thanks to you and to everyone who has championed the film. It means a lot.
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Jim Fleigner
"Now doesn't matter when you're twelve"
www.RoundingFirstMovie.com

[Daniel Chia]

We'll continue championing your film, Jim. You can count on that. Your film is far too good for us not to continue doing our little to help create more awareness for it...
_________________
3 Best Friends .... One Remarkable Journey ....
www.roundingfirst.net : The Rounding First Tribute Site

[Eleah]

I hope you will be able to make another film one day
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Eleah